Ohio History Journal

324       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

ing them, without political compromise, our cooperation

in return for greater consideration on their part.

Encourage Columbus-Franklin County membership,

approximately one-third of our total, to serve as a

nucleus of interest and activity; these, being close at

hand can and do avail themselves of the Museum and

Library, and should be amenable to further interest pro-

vided something worth-while is provided for them. Util-

ize these nearby members more freely on committees and

as volunteer aids in Museum and Library projects. From

such a nucleus we should be able to extend our service

and our support to all parts of the great State of Ohio.

The high spot of the afternoon program and some-

thing which I am certain all of us will appreciate is an

address entitled "A New Deal in History," by Prof.

John W. Oliver, head of the Department of History,

University of Pittsburgh.

 

A NEW DEAL IN HISTORY

AN ABSTRACT OF ADDRESS GIVEN BY DR. JOHN W. OLIVER.

This is a day of New Deals. History and historians are not

being overlooked. A good slogan for us would be, "An Histori-

cal Society in every State, and in every County of every State."

A Renewed and Sustained Interest in State and Local His-

tory is of more lasting value than any number of new deals in

politics or government. The New Deal in history really started

before the brain trusts. Woodrow Wilson turned, early in the

World War, to the historians, and sought their help. They, more

than any other group, gave the President the FACTS for a proper

understanding of the people with whom we were associated as

Allies, and against whom we waged war as enemies. Our histor-

ians, better than all others, understood the background of these

peoples, their life habits, their psychology, their moods and their

desires, and they were able to interpret these to the President, the

• 1
 

Minutes of the Annual Meeting             325 Department of State, and other responsible parties. (A number of illustrations given to support this point). Then, following the Armistice, the President took with him a number of historical experts, to aid in drafting the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. Had their advice been written into the provisions of that Treaty, the last fifteen years of world his- tory would tell a different story. It would never have been ne- cessary to appoint the dozen and more special Commissions to

patch up the mistakes that occurred--for it can be shown in most every case that these special Commissions finally had to adopt the original suggestions laid down by the historical advisers, fifteen years ago. Today, we are witnessing rapid, some say revolutionary changes in industry. Where, one asks, does the historian, where do the historical societies, come in on this "New Deal"? I answer by mentioning the important historical and archival research being done under the C. W. A. This work climaxes the less spectacular, but none the less important work that historical societies have been doing for generations.

• 2
 

326        Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications

Why not take advantage of this revival of interest? You,

here in Ohio, have done great work. You have greater things

in view. The program of things-to-be-done, just read by your

Director, Dr. Shetrone, is indeed a challenge. It almost staggers

one when he hears of the ambitious program you have set up for

yourselves.

I am reminded here of a plea I heard an English Bishop

make a few years ago. He was addressing a meeting of British

scientists. He urged the men of that organization to declare a

ten-year holiday in science, his reason being that it would take at

least that long for his people to catch up in politics, ethics, and

morals.

And then he went on to say that what his people needed

most was a study, a thorough study, of their history. For "when

people cease to study their history," he declared, "they begin to

decay." Such a study, he continued, would include "a study of

England, its soil, its climate, its people, its local laws, and its

local institutions."

Such is precisely the function of the Ohio Archaeological

and Historical Society,--if we substitute Ohio for England. In

fact, that is the only excuse that a state or a local historical

society has for existing,--namely, to make a study of the state,

the soil, the climate, the people, the local laws and local institu-

tions of that state.

But do not underestimate that duty. For when you study

the history of a great Commonwealth like Ohio, its soil, its

climate, its people, its local laws and local institutions, you are

indeed going to the very foundation of American history.

Illustrations may be cited, and enlarged upon. These include

topics that run through the whole of American history. (A num-

ber of illustrations were cited.)

The point for us to remember is this: the study of American

history does not begin in some far off region,--or in Washington,

D. C.,--but rather it begins right here at our own front door.

And here is where our duty lies.

Ohio is teeming with history. It is our duty--an obligation

that the members of this Society must assume--to discover that

history, reveal it to its citizens, and pass it on to others.

• 3